BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – Colon cancer deaths in Alabama increased 22% from 1999 to 2018, with the disease increasingly affecting younger people, according to state data.
The trend mirrors a national pattern highlighted this week by the death of actor James Van Der Beek at age 48. Van Der Beek was diagnosed with colon cancer at 46.
“That number is increasing, and it’s increasing even faster in younger people,” said Dr. Katherine Dean, a colon and rectal surgeon. “So 10, 15 years ago the rate of people younger than 55 getting colorectal cancer was maybe 10%, now it’s 20%.”…